Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The Shiveluch volcano in Kamchatka twice in one day ejected ash columns to a height of eight and eight and a half kilometers above sea level
Global cooling, here we come! Or anyway, a cooking component added to the equation in addition to the effect of the solar magnetic storms and everything else, both positive and negative.
. This was reported by the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
"In the morning, explosions raised ash from the Shiveluch volcano eight kilometers above sea level. The plume extended 200 kilometers to the northeast of the volcano. Later, another ash emission occurred at a height of eight and a half kilometers above sea level. The plume extended 35 kilometers to the north-northeast of the volcano," the report says.
The volcano's activity poses a serious threat to local and international air travel. Shiveluch is located 50 kilometers north of the village of Klyuchi in the Ust-Kamchatsky district and 450 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the Kamchatka Territory also reported that if the wind changes, there remains a possibility of ash fall in populated areas of the Ust-Kamchatsky, Bystrinsky, Milkovsky and Tigilsky districts, as well as the Yelizovsky and Karaginsky districts.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, the highest active volcano in Eurasia, Klyuchevskaya Sopka, began erupting in Kamchatka on April 21. The aviation hazard code for Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano was changed from green to yellow. This code is the second of four and indicates risks for small aircraft. If the volcano's activity continues to increase, it could affect low-flying aircraft.
Earlier, the Bezymyanny volcano began erupting in Kamchatka. Satellite data showed a bright thermal glow in the crater that lasted for several minutes. At 10:30 local time on April 21 (01:30 Moscow time), explosions raised ash from the Bezymyanny volcano 4,000 meters above sea level. The ash plume stretched 36 km west of the volcano.
The volcanic eruption continues. Volcanologists noted that an ash plume up to 10-15 km above sea level can be expected at any time. The volcano's activity is dangerous for local air travel, and an orange hazard code (increased probability of eruption) has been declared.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] A storm warning has been issued in the Rostov Region. This was reported by the press service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry in the region.
“In some places on the Don from 14:00 to 16:00 Moscow time, then until the end of May 17, and also during the day of May 18, heavy showers with thunderstorms, hail and winds up to 20–23 m/s are expected,” the report says.
Tomorrow, Sunday, May 18, there will also be severe thunderstorms in some places in the region.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations called on citizens to be careful and call rescuers if necessary.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, a storm warning has been issued in Chukotka due to strong winds and ground blizzards. The Ministry of Emergency Situations recommended not to leave children unattended and not to travel outside of populated areas. Also, in strong winds, it is dangerous to be near dilapidated structures.
At the end of April, a high alert regime was introduced in Omsk due to strong winds with gusts of up to 25 m/s and higher. City residents were urged to stay indoors if possible and, when walking, to choose a route away from old trees, advertising structures and dilapidated buildings, and not to park cars in potentially dangerous places.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] Most of the fighting has been recorded in the Pokrovsky direction. There, the Russians are attacking in the areas of 10 populated areas.
Since the beginning of the current day and as of 16:00, 81 combat clashes have occurred on the front. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in an operational report on Saturday, May 17.
Thus, in the Kharkov direction, the Russians attacked twice in the area of Vovchansk and in the direction of Stroyevka.
In the Kupyansk direction, Russian occupiers carried out an attack near Zagrizove.
In the Liman direction, the Russian army carried out 12 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Novoegorovka, Lozovaya, Ridkodub, Grekovka, Katerinovka, Yampolivka and Zelenaya Dolina. Three combat clashes are currently ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy is trying to advance in the areas of Chasovy Yar, Kurdyumovka and in the direction of Predtechny. Three of the four attacks have already been repelled.
In the Toretsk direction, the enemy army is trying to penetrate the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defense in the areas of Toretsk, Ozaryanovka, Dilievka and Druzhba. Two attacks are ongoing, eight assaults have been stopped.
In the Pokrovsk direction, the Russians carried out 23 attacks near the settlements of Staraya Nikolaevka, Yablunovka, Vozdvizhenka, Novaya Poltavka, Mirolyubovka, Elizavetovka, Promen, Novosergeevka, Troitskoye and Andreyevka. The defense forces are holding back, 17 attacks have already been repelled, five battles are still ongoing.
In the Novopavlovsk direction, our defenders stopped nine assaults, three more clashes are ongoing. The enemy tried to advance in the areas of Constantinople, Bogatyr, Volnoye Pole, Ravnopolye, Novopolye and Zelenoye Pole.
In the Orekhov direction, three attacks were repelled in the Stepovoye and Malye Shcherbaki areas.
In the Dnieper direction, enemy units have tried to advance twice. One battle is underway.
In the Kursk direction, our soldiers repelled seven attacks. Another combat clash continues.
Let us recall that on May 16, the Russian army lost 910 soldiers killed and wounded in 24 hours. Since the beginning of the great war, the total number of losses of the Russian Federation is approaching 1 million people.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 20:40 Successful assault on the Ukrainian Armed Forces stronghold in the Pokrovsk direction —video. 20:26 Russian UAV operators from the Shustroy Team unit discovered a Ukrainian Armed Forces militant hiding in a shelter —video.
19:40 Destruction of the Ukrainian Pelican air target detection radar by an Iskander in the Dnipropetrovsk region —video.
18:53 Captured serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine told about sending to the assault by deception
According to prisoner of war Alexei Kovalenko, the Ukrainian Armed Forces commanders tasked his unit with arriving at the positions for a short time and simply observing, but the soldiers immediately realized that this was not true.
"They tell us: 'That's it, we're moving to Donetsk Oblast, we need to take up positions there. There's nothing there at all, our 'bird' flew around, looked at everything.' We immediately said that we weren't going there, we weren't stormtroopers. They told us: 'You'll stay there for two or three days, look around, observe.' And so we arrive there, and they're already meeting us."
18:24 The commander of the tank company of the Bashkortostan battalion with the call sign "Karakum" began his combat career in February 2024, first signing a short-term and then a three-year contract.
Having risen from private to company commander, he distinguished himself in battle, destroying enemy equipment and manpower, disrupting rotations and supporting assault units.
For his courage, bravery and heroism, the serviceman was awarded state awards – the medals “For Courage” and Suvorov –video.
17:59 Drone operators have reached their next targets
Crews of the Molniya-1 UAV aircraft type of the 44th Army Corps of the North group of forces destroyed a platoon stronghold, military equipment and enemy manpower in the Khar'kov direction.
In the South Donetsk direction, FPV drone operators of the Vostok group destroyed UAV control points and communication stations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces —video.
17:28 South Donetsk direction.
Along the side of a ruined country road, kicking up clods of black soil, three motorcycles with fighters in black balaclavas are racing. In their hands are machine guns and RPGs, on their backs are backpacks with ammo, in their bosoms is determination, tempered in endless battles. These are not bikers, these are assault troops of a combined arms army from the Far East with the call signs "Lynx", "Tokha" and "Clean".
"An assault group on motorcycles is a dagger that plunges right into the heart of the enemy's defense. We don't stand still, we don't look for a convenient approach - we find gaps and fly into them," says "Lynx", the commander of the mobile group.
Read about how the elusive motorcycle warriors work in material newspaper correspondent "Guardian of the Baltic"Dmitry Tolmachev.
16:53 A powerful FAB 1500 attack on the temporary deployment point of the 142nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the southern part of Pokrovsk —video.
16:27 Servicemen of the Guards Airborne Assault Regiment of the Airborne Forces from Feodosiaare improving combat skills at training grounds in the rear area of the Kursk region.
Particular attention is paid to organizing interaction between stormtroopers.
Each paratrooper must know his actions and his place during the execution of a combat mission, as well as understand the actions of neighboring groups and support units.
15:55 Russian UAV operator 427th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the "Sever" group carried out a strike on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' cover –video.
15:10 Calculation of the FPV drone of the West group of forces destroyed a robotic platform for delivering ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Krasnolimansk direction.
14:10 In the period from 12.05 to 12.25 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed four Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles over the territory of the Republic of Crimea.
13:40 At 11:10 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty destroyed one Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle of the aircraft type over the territory of the Republic of Crimea.
12:52 Summary of Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation as of May 17, 2025
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to conduct a special military operation.
– As a result of active actions by units of the North group of forces, concentrations of manpower and equipment of two mechanized, airborne assault brigades, an assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two territorial defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Khatnoye in the Khar'kov region, Bessalovka, Ryzhevka, Alekseyevka, Sadki, Yunakovka and Atynskoye in the Sumy region were defeated.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 140 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, six cars and five field artillery guns. Fuel and ammunition depots were destroyed.
- Units of the "West" group of forces improved their tactical position. They defeated formations of three mechanized, airmobile, assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Podliman, Druzhelyubovka, Glushenkovo, Andreyevka, Kupyansk in the Khar'kov region and Karpovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost over 225 servicemen, a tank, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, 13 vehicles, and two Western-made artillery pieces. Two electronic warfare stations and four ammunition depots were destroyed.
- Units of the "Southern" group of troops occupied more advantageous lines and positions. They inflicted losses on the manpower and equipment of two mechanized and motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of the settlements of Seversk, Novodmitrovka, Semenovka, Ivanopolye, Zarya, Chasov Yar and Konstantinovka of the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost up to 265 servicemen, a tank, an armored combat vehicle, four pickup trucks, a field artillery gun and three electronic warfare stations.
– The decisive actions of the units of the “Center” group of forces liberated the settlement of Alexandropol in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Formations of four mechanized, ranger, and assault brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a naval infantry brigade, and a national guard brigade were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Shevchenko-Pervoe, Popov Yar, Novoekonomicheskoe, Dimitrov, and Krasnoarmeysk of the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy's losses amounted to over 490 servicemen, a tank, two armored combat vehicles, including a Turkish-made Kirpi armored car, 14 cars, an artillery piece and an ammunition depot.
- Units of the "East" group of forces continued to advance into the depths of the enemy's defense. They defeated the manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a territorial defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Bogatyr, Otradnoye, Zelenoe Pole and Komar of the Donetsk People's Republic.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost over 160 servicemen, three combat armored vehicles, six cars, two field artillery pieces and two electronic warfare stations.
– Units of the Dnepr group of forces defeated formations of a mechanized brigade, two coastal defense brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and three territorial defense brigades in the areas of the settlements of Kamenskoye, Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhia region, Osokorovka, Berislav, Ponyatovka and Antonovka in the Kherson region.
Up to 65 servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, three cars, two artillery pieces and two electronic warfare stations were destroyed.
Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the groups of troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation damaged ammunition and fuel depots, storage sites for unmanned aerial vehicles, military airfield infrastructure facilities, as well as temporary deployment points of units of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 143 districts.
Air defense systems shot down three JDAM guided aerial bombs and a US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, as well as 80 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles.
12:24 Exclusive footage from the Anvar unit. Our fighters are clearing the Sumy and Khar'kov regions of Ukrainian militants —video.
11:51 Signalmen of the "Center" group provide uninterrupted communication between command posts and forward units in the Krasnoarmeysk direction.
The guys' tasks include prompt troubleshooting and establishing backup communication channels.
11:25 Telegram channel «Fisherman»:
Chronicle of the SVO for May 16
– In the Pokrovsk-Mirnograd direction, the Russian Armed Forces liberated Mirolyubovka and Mikhailovka. Russian forces have consolidated their positions on the northern outskirts. After the "pocket" from Mirolyubovka to Malinovka is closed, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' positions in the east of the agglomeration will weaken. Supplies along the T-05-15 highway and the road to Pokrovsk will be under threat.
– In the Novopavlovsk direction, there are battles in the area of Udachnoye, Novonikolayevka, Troitskoye and Kotlyarovka. The border with the Dnipropetrovsk region is 1.5-4 km away.
Earlier, Russian troops advanced in the area of the Tartyanka gully. This is the result of several attacks, not one offensive. In the area of the Shiroka gully, the Ukrainian Armed Forces may maintain separate positions.
– In the Andreevsky direction, fighting continues on the outskirts of Bogatyr. The enemy still holds some positions, and the village is being cleared. Artillery and FPV drones are working non-stop. Russian troops have occupied the forest belt and blocked Bogatyr from the east in the Otradnoye area.
10:48 Criminal Kyiv regime continues shelling civilian infrastructure of populated areas of the left bank of the Kherson region
Yesterday, during the day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces released:
– Six rounds in the village of Novaya Kakhovka;
– Three rounds in the village of Malaya Lepetikha;
– Five rounds to the settlement of Velikaya Lepetikha;
- According to n.p. Zabarino two rounds;
– Four rounds in the village of Rybalche;
– Four rounds in the village of Golaya Pristan;
– Three rounds in the village of Kardashinka;
- Three rounds in the village of Obryvka;
- Four rounds were fired at the settlement of Dnepryany.
As a result of shelling by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, four civilians were killed in Velyka Lepetikha, Malaya Lepetikha, Rybalcha and Zabarino.During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the villages of Novaya Kakhovka, Mala Lepetikha, Mala Kardashynka, and Knyaze-Grigorovka, firing a total of 23 rounds from cannon artillery.
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being clarified.
10:07 Operators of the Geranium-2 UAV discovered a parking point for equipment of the 82nd Separate Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of the settlement of Velyka Chernetchina in the Sumy region.
09:51 UAV operators of the 1427th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the "North" group discovered location of the enemy dugout in the Sumy region.
07:31 Changes to map over the past 24 hours:
Adjustment of the control zone in our favor in the Mirolyubovka area➡️
Advance in Lobkovo
Expansion of the control zone east of Otradny➡️
Advance in Novaya Poltavka
07:26 From 22:00 on May 16 to 06:00 on May 17 by air defense systems on duty destroyed two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the airplane type:
One over the territory of the Belgorod region and
One over the territory of the Kursk region.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Sergey Adamov
[REGNUM] Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev as Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Russia. In this post, he replaced Oleg Salyukov, who was transferred to the post of Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia. Before this, Mordvichev headed the Central Military District and the "Center" group of troops in the SVO zone. Colonel General Valery Solodchuk was transferred to the post of commander.
The reshuffle in the Russian army command has sparked discussions in the media and social networks. The new commander is known in both Russian and foreign sources as one of the most successful military leaders in the Russian army, who planned and implemented a number of offensive operations. Thanks to his professional qualities, Mordvichev has received the nickname "Breakthrough General" on the Internet.
DEBUT IN TSKHINVALI, CHECKMATE IN MARIUPOL
Andrey Mordvichev was born in Pavlodar (present-day Kazakhstan). In 1997, he graduated from the Novosibirsk Higher Combined Arms Command School, and in 2006, from the Frunze Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces. During the "five-day war" in South Ossetia in 2008, Mordvichev commanded the 28th Motorized Rifle Brigade. In 2016, he completed courses at the Military Academy of the General Staff, which allowed him to occupy senior command positions in the future.
By the beginning of the SVO, Mordvichev commanded the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District, which took part in combat operations from the first days of the operation.
The first task that Mordvichev's 8th Army faced in the SVO zone was the liberation of Mariupol, which had been turned into a fortress city by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The Ukrainian army command concentrated large forces in the development and industrial zone, which were called upon if not to hold the city, then at least to tie down the advancing units of the Russian army. However, the Russian Armed Forces command was able to skillfully cut through the enemy's defense, isolating pockets of resistance, and subsequently crush the main group of troops, which had fortified itself in the Azovstal corps.
Frontline sources attribute the success of the operation to the competent planning carried out by Mordvichev's headquarters. During the fighting, the commander also went directly to the troops, getting on video and becoming one of the first "public" commanders of the Russian army.
Ukrainian sources recognized Mordvichev's talents as a commander and subsequently declared a full-fledged "hunt" for him. During the operation, the media and individual bloggers repeatedly reported on the general's "death" in Mariupol, Kherson and a number of settlements along the entire front line.
SUCCESS IN AVDEEVKA
The successful completion of the battles for Mariupol led to Mordvichev's appointment as commander of the Central Military District and the "Center" group of troops operating in Donbass. Here the military leader received the nickname "Breakthrough General". The troops operating under his command were tasked with pushing the enemy back from Donetsk and protecting the capital of the DPR from shelling by the Ukrainian army.
During the years of military action preceding the start of the SVO, Ukrainian troops created a powerful line of defense based on industrial zones located north and east of Donetsk. The northern suburb of Donetsk, Avdiivka and the industrial zone of the Avdeevka Coke Plant acquired key importance.
As previously in Mariupol, the Ukrainian Armed Forces command planned, if not to hold, then at least to halt the Russian army’s advance, preserving a vital bridgehead for a possible counteroffensive.
However, the command of the Russian group "Center" planned an operation that allowed them to avoid a "frontal" assault on the enemy's defense line.
Instead, Russian troops bypassed Avdeevka from the east, and then broke through the enemy's front line between the city and the industrial zone buildings. This led to the fragmentation of the enemy's defense. The Ukrainian Armed Forces units transferred to this section of the front suffered heavy losses and were unable to cover the retreat of the Avdeevka garrison, which turned into a rout.
When retreating from Avdeevka, the enemy command “forgot” individual fighters and entire units in the city, which remained in the positions they held, completely surrounded.
"Duel" with Drapati
Since the loss of Avdeevka in February 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have repeatedly attempted to stabilize the front line northwest of Donetsk by building a more or less coherent line of defense. However, the forces of the Center group have constantly thwarted the enemy's attempts to create new defensive nodes.
Under the command of General Mordvichev, the troops liberated Ocheretino, Selidovo, Ukrainsk and Kurakhovo, breaking through to Pokrovsk. For the successful planning and implementation of a number of offensive operations in March 2024, Colonel General Mordvichev was awarded the Hero of Russia star.
Here, the Ukrainian command once again tried to stabilize the front line, expecting that Russian troops would run into the defensive line and stop advancing. In the future, the Ukrainian military could draw the advancing troops into protracted urban battles.
However, the command of the group once again "did not live up to" Kyiv's expectations, refusing to conduct a frontal assault on the dense residential area and industrial zone. Instead, the Russian army encircled the city from both the east and west, encircling Pokrovsk and hanging over the supply routes of the Ukrainian group of troops.
Here Mordvichev "met" with one of the best tacticians of the Ukrainian Armed Forces - Mikhail Drapatiy. As the commander of the ground forces of the Ukrainian army, Drapatiy was sent to Pokrovsk in January 2025 with the aim of organizing a counteroffensive and pushing back the forces of the Russian group "Center". However, this "duel" ended with the victory of the Russian strategy.
In a number of directions, the Ukrainian Armed Forces were able to penetrate the defense of the Center group, but this is where "Drapatogo's counteroffensive" stopped. On the contrary, the Russian Armed Forces were able to wear down the enemy in battles and by May of this year restore the "status quo". In many ways, this became possible thanks to Mordvichev's skillful planning.
"AUTHOR'S HANDWRITING"
Sources on both sides of the front note that when planning offensive operations, the Center group repeatedly used the same strategic technique. Without engaging in protracted assaults on fortified positions, General Mordvichev's troops probed for a weak spot in the enemy's defense, broke through the front line, and broke through to the enemy's supply routes.
Thus, Ukrainian troops were faced with a choice time and again: to continue to defend while surrounded or to retreat again and again. The success of such tactics was largely due to the widespread use of mobile infantry and armored units, overcoming the "gray zone" and breaking right into enemy positions. Sources note that Mordvichev's headquarters repeatedly resorted to such bold and unconventional decisions. In this sense, it can be noted that the forces of the Central Military District fell into reliable hands.
The new commander, Colonel General Valeriy Solodchuk, is also known for his unconventional moves. From the first days of the special operation, the general led the 36th Army of the Eastern Military District, which took part in the battles near Kiev. Subsequently, he was appointed deputy commander of the Central Military District and led the Russian army group in the Kursk region. Characteristically, the Ukrainian media also repeatedly "buried" Solodchuk, who, despite this, continued to command the troops. In particular, the forces entrusted to him were able to stabilize the situation on the front in the Kremennaya area during the enemy counteroffensive in the fall of 2022 - winter of 2023.
Subsequently, he also led the Kursk group of troops, which was able to liberate the region, including thanks to a daring breakthrough deep into the enemy's defenses through a gas pipeline. There is no doubt that under the leadership of the new commander, the Center group of troops will present the enemy with new tactical "surprises."
RESTRUCTURING IN COMMAND?
A number of Russian sources link the transfer of the commander of the ground forces Oleg Salyukov and the appointment of Andrei Mordvichev to his position with the process of modernization of the Russian army. Some assume that in the foreseeable future Mordvichev will be able to take a higher position in the General Staff or the Ministry of Defense. Others believe that the new commander is called upon to "disperse" the old personnel and create fundamentally new ground forces.
However, the appointment of a new commander can in fact be considered a consequence of the natural course of events, military expert and reserve officer Alexander Mikhailovsky noted in an interview with IA Regnum. "With all due respect to Oleg Leonidovich (Salyukov. - editor's note), in our time of new technologies, new approaches to planning combat operations, an infusion of "fresh blood" is necessary. Mordvichev is young for a commander, he is 49 years old, he is familiar with modern approaches in practice and will now implement them. Any reasoning on the topic of the previous leadership and someone's "disgrace" is, rather, some kind of speculation," the expert notes.
However, in general, both domestic and Western sources agree that in the person of Colonel General Andrei Mordvichev, the ground forces have received an experienced and competent commander who will have to transform practical experience into new concepts concerning both the use of ground forces on the battlefield and their staffing and preparation for military action in the conditions of modern warfare.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Russian President Vladimir Putin has established the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of the legendary commander Alexander Suvorov in 2030. The corresponding decree appeared on May 17 on the website of the official publication of legal acts.
“Considering the significant contribution of the legendary commander A. V. Suvorov to strengthening the power of the Russian state and in connection with the upcoming 300th anniversary of his birth, I decree: to accept the proposal of the Government of the Russian Federation to celebrate the 300th anniversary of A. V. Suvorov’s birth in 2030,” the document says.
It is specified that the government must convene an organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the celebration, and approve the plan of events, within six months. At the same time, the authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, local governments, public associations, and scientific and educational organizations are recommended to take part in the preparation and holding of these events.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, on April 29, the Russian president announced that over 10 federal laws on the protection of history had been adopted in the country in recent years. Thus, new days of military glory were established in honor of the Crimean offensive operation in 1944, the Battle of Leningrad, and the procedure for protecting cultural heritage sites became clearer.
Putin also proposed the idea of creating a commission of the Russian Federation and Belarus to preserve historical memory and protect the truth about the Great Patriotic War. On September 5, 2023, he also voiced a proposal to create a National Center for Historical Memory.
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin is in italics.
[ColonelCassad] As a supplement to the post of our dear comrade MultXama regarding the events taking place on the Konstantinovka-Chasov Yar front:
While the heat of battle in the remaining quarters of Chasov Yar under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces does not subside, and the enemy is attempting counterattacks (two days ago there was another attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on this section, the enemy got it in the neck and retreated), units of the Russian Armed Forces are beginning to terrorize the enemy in the Konstantinovka area ( https://t.me/genshtab24/87100 ) - a major logistics hub of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, located southwest of Chasov Yar.
The occupation of the commanding heights in Chasov Yar and its environs by the Russian Army allows control over the roads of Konstantinovka, which are used to deliver personnel, ammunition and medicine to the Ukrainian Armed Forces units located on two sections of the front - in Toretsk and in the remaining quarters of Chasov Yar.
Fiber optic drones, which proved themselves excellent during the counter-terrorist operation in the Kursk region, are being used en masse by the Russian Armed Forces to destroy military equipment dispersed in Konstantinovka.
Today, the enemy, perfectly understanding the situation, is in a hurry to stop this phenomenon and is urgently starting to prepare the city for defense, simultaneously installing the so-called "anti-drone networks" on the main roads in order to prevent a repeat of the "Kursk scenario" - let us recall that thanks to the coordinated and competent actions of the UAV crews of the "North" Group of Forces, it was possible to destroy 70 percent of the logistics of the enemy's "Kursk" group, which, together with Operation Potok, contributed to the rapid breakthrough of the Russian Armed Forces and the subsequent destruction of the enemy in the tactical direction.
As for the main logistics route of the Ukrainian Armed Forces garrison in Chasov Yar, passing through Konstantinovka, this is, first of all, the road through the settlement. Novodmitrovka (🔼48.546136, 37.731751) and Stenki (🔼48.578126, 37.740420). From the above-mentioned settlements, there is a branching through the settlements of Podolskoye (🔼48.572345, 37.770074), Chervone (🔼48.564056, 37.782391) and Nikolaevka (🔼48.576275, 37.795609), and the last settlement in the current reality acts as "zero" for units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to send fighters to the remaining quarters of Chasy Yar. The enemy's foot logistics routes pass through the forest regiments to the west of Chasy Yar and go towards the settlement. Verolyubovka (🔼48.610223, 37.719906), from where you can also drive through the fields towards Kramatorsk.
In fact, the enemy in Chasov Yar now has a part of Dneprovskaya Street, 0.18 km² on the western outskirts of Chasov Yar (the private sector of the city, the battles for which are going on with varying success and actually represent the principle of "drive the enemy into the basement") and, if you count the Shevchenko microdistrict, located to the south of the urban development and representing a private sector and several small forest areas), then in total the enemy has about 10 km², but the main heights are under the control of the Russian Armed Forces and the fate of the garrison and reinforcements of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has already been predetermined.
Separately, it is worth noting the "air" situation in the area - the enemy has brought in a huge number of hexacopter-type UAVs "Baba Yaga" and is trying with all its might to stop the advance of the Russian Armed Forces. The quality of the infantry of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has declined, but the "unmanned" units continue to saturate the area with their drones, so the overall situation "in the air" remains difficult, but controllable.
P.S., Multiham is currently publishing an excellent analysis of the Donetsk direction. As soon as all the posts are published, I will collect them in bulk into one publication for LJ.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Gevorg Mirzayan
[REGNUM] On May 16, long-awaited direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations took place in Istanbul—the first in almost three years.
The idea of continuing the negotiation process belonged to Vladimir Putin - the Russian president had previously proposed holding them on May 15. However, the Kiev regime dragged its feet for a long time - demanding that Putin personally come to Istanbul for a meeting with Zelensky.
And when it became clear that the Russian leader would not give in to Ukrainian wishes (the head of state's aide, Vladimir Medinsky, was appointed head of the Russian delegation ), and US President Donald Trump would not approve of the breakdown of the negotiations, Zelensky had to send a delegation to Istanbul after all.
“American representatives explained to the Ukrainian side before the start of bilateral negotiations with Russia that they should not make further meetings impossible, since Trump wants to present the start of bilateral negotiations as his own success,” Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, explains to Regnum.
Thus, the negotiations began according to Russia's scenario - and continued in exactly the same way. Thus, the parties agreed on another prisoner exchange.
The Kiev regime, of course, insisted on an exchange on the principle of “all for all” (knowing full well that the number of captured Ukrainian soldiers in Russian captivity is many times greater than the number of Russians in Ukrainian captivity), but the position of the Russian delegation was adamant: strictly on the principle of “one for one.”
In the end, it was decided to exchange a thousand for a thousand - and this is the largest exchange in the entire history of the SVO. Now, in all likelihood, the parties will agree on the lists. And for this alone it was possible to meet - after all, for Russia, the most important thing has always been people, and after the exchange, a thousand Russian soldiers will return home.
Another positive point is that negotiations took place at all and that they will continue, tentatively in June.
"The most important thing is that neither side called them a failure, nor declared that continuing them was pointless. On the contrary, the negotiations were called expedient. This means that a long-term Russian-Ukrainian process was initiated in Istanbul," Dmitry Suslov explains to Regnum News Agency.
After all, we should not forget that, despite the West's explicit and implicit participation in the conflict, the peace agreement will be signed only and exclusively between Russia and Ukraine. These are the rules of the classic Cold War "conflicts on the periphery", which is what the West considers the Ukrainian war to be.
But there was no progress after that. And there couldn't have been.
Thus, the Kiev regime insists on an immediate ceasefire. In fact, even before the negotiations began, its head stated that the delegation sent had a mandate to discuss only one single topic: a 30-day truce.
Russia, both before and during the negotiations, views this proposal as meaningless. "War and negotiations always go hand in hand in history," said Vladimir Medinsky.
Yes, during the negotiations Moscow did not remove this issue from the agenda. "We agreed that each side would present its vision of a possible future ceasefire. It would spell it out in detail," Medinsky said. However, this does not mean that the Russian side made any real concessions here.
“The agreement that each side will present its vision of a ceasefire does not mean that this ceasefire will come soon,” explains Dmitry Suslov.
Moreover, the Russian vision has allegedly already been presented - according to Sky News, Moscow has demanded that the Kiev regime withdraw all its troops from Russian constitutional territories. That is, from those cities in the Kherson, Zaporizhia regions and Donbass that Ukraine is currently occupying.
Western media, citing their sources, generally emphasize that the Russian side behaved quite harshly during the negotiations. For example, Vladimir Medinsky allegedly spoke about his readiness to bring the SVO to a victorious end, no matter how long it takes.
"We don't want war, but we are prepared to fight for a year, two, three - however long it takes. We fought Sweden for 21 years. How long are you prepared to fight?" - British journalists write.
However, this toughness was predictable in a good sense. Vladimir Medinsky's delegation did not try to disrupt anything or insult anyone, and did not strive to put on a show at the event.
It merely reminded of the clear and unchanging demands, voiced more than once by Vladimir Putin: about the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops for the conclusion of an “immediate truce,” and about the readiness to continue the SVO as long as it takes to resolve all the key problems of the Ukrainian conflict – that is, changing the Russophobic nature of the Kyiv regime and protecting Russian citizens.
And only after Russian demands are accepted or at least real work begins on them, will it be possible to move negotiations to some higher level.
Yes, the Kiev regime wants to transfer him. "The Ukrainian side has requested direct negotiations between the heads of state," Medinsky said. And immediate ones.
"The next stage should be a meeting of the leaders," said the head of the Ukrainian delegation, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. However, it is not Umerov or Zelensky, but only Putin who will decide with whom, when and where to meet.
And at the moment he has nothing to talk about with Zelensky - either literally or figuratively.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
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Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
